October 2 became a remarkable date on the Nollywood calendar as different parts of the Nigerian film industry turned their attention to two veterans whose careers had left deep marks on generations of actors and movie lovers. While one gathering took place in Ilaro, Ogun State, where family members, friends and entertainers assembled for the 40 day Fidau and Artists’ Day held in honour of Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, another major gathering was taking place in Lagos as relatives, colleagues, government officials and admirers came together to give Olu Jacobs his final farewell.
The scenes were different, the religious traditions were different and the locations were separated by several hours, yet both gatherings carried the same weight of remembrance, bringing familiar faces from Nigerian entertainment into public view at a significant moment for the industry.
October 2 brings 2 major gatherings
The significance of the date became clearer as the activities unfolded across the 2 locations. At Ilaro, the focus was on Ogogo’s 40 day Fidau and Artists’ Day, a programme that combined Islamic prayers with an organised celebration of the veteran actor’s contribution to Yoruba theatre and cinema. At Lagos, attention centred on the final funeral service of Olu Jacobs at This Present House in Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, following the Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held 2 days earlier at Glover Memorial Hall in Marina.
Both gatherings attracted members of the entertainment community, but each carried its own character. Ogogo’s programme reflected the traditions surrounding his burial and the strong relationship he maintained with the Yoruba entertainment community throughout his career. Olu Jacobs’ funeral followed a Christian service structure, with Bible readings, musical performances, tributes and a final burial after the service.
For many followers of Nigerian entertainment, October 2 therefore became more than another date filled with celebrity appearances. It brought together 2 separate moments of remembrance involving 2 highly respected veterans, with colleagues from different generations turning out to honour careers that stretched across decades.
Ogogo’s final rites begin with prayer
Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, widely known as Ogogo, died on August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 after battling stage 4 cancer. His death brought an end to a career that had lasted for more than 4 decades and had taken him through Yoruba travelling theatre, stage performances and Nigerian cinema.
His burial followed the next day, August 24, in Ilaro, Ogun State, according to Islamic rites. The choice of Ilaro carried personal and cultural significance because of Ogogo’s long connection with the area and the Yoruba entertainment tradition that shaped much of his career.
The family later announced further programmes to mark his passing. The first major post burial gathering was the 8th day Fidau prayer held on August 31, while October 2 was set aside for the 40 day Fidau and Artists’ Day.
The difference between the 2 programmes gave the October gathering a wider entertainment dimension. The 8th day event was centred primarily on prayers for the deceased, while the Artists’ Day was designed to bring members of the entertainment industry together to celebrate Ogogo’s life, career and contribution to Yoruba cinema.
August 31 sets the tone
The 8th day Fidau already showed the level of affection surrounding Ogogo within the Yoruba entertainment community. Several established names attended the gathering, giving the occasion the appearance of a meeting point for generations of actors who had either worked with the late actor or shared the same professional space with him.
Odunlade Adekola, Ibrahim Chatta, Pa James, Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Toyosi Adesanya, Rotimi Salami, Mama Rainbow, Fausat Balogun and Fathia Balogun were among the entertainers reported at the earlier gathering.
Ogogo’s daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, were also present as the family continued with the rites following his burial. Their presence added a personal dimension to an event that was also drawing considerable attention from the wider entertainment community.
The gathering showed that Ogogo’s farewell would not end with the burial ceremony. The family and the industry still had another important date ahead, one that would bring entertainment itself into the centre of the remembrance.
That date was October 2.
Ilaro prepares for Artists’ Day
The 40 day programme at Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground in Ilaro was planned as more than a conventional post burial gathering. The programme was described as an Artists’ Day, giving actors, musicians, comedians, singers and other entertainers an opportunity to participate directly in remembering Ogogo.
TAMPAN, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, was involved in coordinating the Artists’ Day, reflecting the late actor’s long standing relationship with the Yoruba entertainment community.
The idea was simple but significant. Ogogo had spent decades working within the entertainment industry, so colleagues were given an opportunity to celebrate the man through the same world that had defined much of his public life.
Performances formed part of the programme, making the event feel different from the earlier prayer gathering. Instead of focusing only on mourning, the Artists’ Day allowed colleagues to remember Ogogo through entertainment, stories, prayers and public expressions of appreciation.
That combination gave the Ilaro gathering its distinctive character as the entertainment community returned to the town for another major stage of the late actor’s final rites.
Ogogo’s career returns to the spotlight
Ogogo’s career cannot easily be separated from the development of Yoruba theatre and cinema. His professional journey stretched across more than 40 years, taking him through an era when travelling theatre played a major role in shaping the careers of Yoruba performers.
The environment in which he developed his craft was different from the modern entertainment industry dominated by streaming platforms and social media. Actors built their reputations through theatre performances, touring productions, stage appearances and later through movies that reached audiences across Nigeria.
Ogogo became one of the recognisable faces of that tradition. His name became familiar to Yoruba movie audiences, while his career also connected him with several generations of performers who would later become major names in Nigerian entertainment.
That history gave the Artists’ Day an additional layer. Colleagues were not simply gathering to mark 40 days after his death. They were also paying tribute to an actor whose career had crossed several periods of change within Yoruba entertainment.
The gathering in Ilaro
By October 2, family members, friends, well wishers and members of Nollywood had gathered at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground for the 40 day Fidau and Artists’ Day.
The atmosphere combined religious remembrance with entertainment. Prayers remained central to the occasion, while performances and appearances by entertainers reflected the Artists’ Day aspect of the programme.
The gathering also returned attention to Ilaro, the town where Ogogo was buried and where much of the post burial remembrance had taken place. For those familiar with the actor’s background, the location gave the event a strong connection to the environment that had shaped his identity and career.
The full attendance list from the October 2 programme was not immediately available in the early reports, but the gathering was confirmed to have attracted Nollywood stars, family members, friends and well wishers.
The result was a public farewell that looked beyond the final moments of Ogogo’s life and placed greater attention on the career he built over several decades.
Lagos prepares for Olu Jacobs’ final farewell
While activities were taking place in Ilaro, Lagos was preparing for another major Nollywood gathering involving one of the country’s most celebrated actors, Olu Jacobs.
Olu Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84, bringing an end to a career that had established him as one of Nigeria’s most recognisable actors across stage, television and film.
His final ceremonies began publicly with the Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held on September 30 at Glover Memorial Hall in Marina, Lagos Island.
The event began at 4pm, with guests asked to appear in shades of blue. The choice of venue and the formal nature of the programme gave the evening a distinct ceremonial atmosphere as colleagues, friends and family members gathered to remember the late actor.
The gathering also provided some of the most personal moments of the funeral programme, particularly through the tributes delivered by members of his family and colleagues who had worked alongside him.
September 30 becomes a night of memories
Joke Silva, who was married to Olu Jacobs, attended the Night of Tributes alongside members of their family. Their sons, Olusoji Jacobs and Olugbenga Jacobs, were also part of the gathering.
Several major names from Nollywood were present, including Richard Mofe Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Hilda Dokubo, Kate Henshaw, Norbert Young, Desmond Elliot and Afeez Saka.
The programme included Bible readings, performances, personal tributes and a candlelight procession. Each part of the evening contributed to a broader picture of Olu Jacobs beyond the screen.
For the entertainment community, it was an opportunity to remember a colleague. For the family, it was a deeply personal farewell involving people who had known him away from cameras and public appearances.
The difference between those perspectives became particularly clear when his son, Soji Jacobs, spoke about his father.
Soji Jacobs shares a personal memory
Soji Jacobs offered one of the most intimate perspectives on Olu Jacobs during the Night of Tributes. Away from the image of the celebrated actor known by millions, he remembered the man simply as his father.
His account focused on the private side of Olu Jacobs, including the way he protected the family’s privacy despite living much of his professional life in the public eye.
That aspect of his tribute helped place the evening beyond the usual celebration of a famous actor. Olu Jacobs had spent decades appearing before cameras, but his family knew another side of him, one defined by fatherhood, family relationships and life away from the entertainment industry.
The tribute also reflected the position of Joke Silva and their children during the farewell period. Their public appearances throughout the ceremonies provided audiences with a glimpse into the family behind one of Nigeria’s most recognisable entertainment partnerships.
Sola Sobowale remembers her mentor
Another memorable tribute came from Sola Sobowale, who spoke about the role Olu Jacobs played in her development as an actress.
Her tribute focused on the professional influence he had on her career and the guidance she received from him. For an actress who later became one of the most recognisable faces in Nigerian film, the story highlighted the importance of mentorship within the industry.
Olu Jacobs belonged to an older generation of performers whose experience was built through theatre, television and film. His career therefore became a reference point for younger actors who entered the industry after him.
Sobowale’s tribute captured that relationship from the perspective of someone who had benefited directly from his experience and guidance.
Her words also contributed to the wider picture emerging from the Night of Tributes, where several colleagues spoke about the professional standards associated with Olu Jacobs.
RMD recalls Olu Jacobs’ lesson
Richard Mofe Damijo also used the occasion to remember a lesson he said Olu Jacobs taught him.
The statement was simple but carried a clear message about acting and professional discipline.
“There are no small actors, and there are no small lines.”
RMD explained the lesson as a reminder that every actor and every part of a production should be treated seriously. The statement reflected an approach to acting in which performers were expected to understand that even seemingly minor roles could contribute to the success of an entire production.
That memory added another dimension to the Night of Tributes. Beyond the fame, awards and major roles associated with Olu Jacobs, colleagues remembered his approach to the profession and the standards he encouraged in those coming after him.
The message also fitted naturally into a farewell for an actor whose career had lasted for several decades and crossed different stages of Nigerian entertainment.
October 2 brings the final service
2 days after the Night of Tributes, attention moved to This Present House in Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, where the main funeral service for Olu Jacobs took place.
The service began at 10am, with guests asked to wear shades of green. The atmosphere was more formal as family members, government officials, actors, friends and other dignitaries arrived for the final ceremony.
Joke Silva attended with their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs. Reports from the service noted the family’s coordinated traditional attire, giving the occasion another visual connection to Nigerian culture and family tradition.
The gathering brought together people from different parts of public life, showing the breadth of Olu Jacobs’ influence over the course of his career.
The presence of government officials also reflected the public significance attached to his death and final farewell.
Dignitaries join the funeral
Among those reported at the funeral were Ibijoke Sanwo Olu, Lagos State First Lady, Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Oluremi Hamzat, former Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Ekiti State First Lady Bisi Adeleye Fayemi.
Their presence placed the funeral within a wider gathering that extended beyond the entertainment industry.
Actors, family members, political figures and other dignitaries shared the same venue as the country said goodbye to a veteran whose career had extended far beyond one generation of Nigerian viewers.
The ceremony therefore brought together several parts of Nigerian public life in one place, with the central focus remaining the family and the memory of Olu Jacobs.
Darey adds a musical tribute
Music also became part of the funeral service as Darey Art Alade performed “Pray for Me”.
The choice of song carried particular relevance to the occasion, with its themes of family, prayers and life’s journey fitting naturally into a funeral service.
The performance attracted attention online as people shared moments from the ceremony and reflected on the significance of the gathering.
Music has long played an important role in Nigerian funeral ceremonies, often providing another way for families and communities to express emotions that ordinary speeches cannot fully capture.
Darey’s performance therefore became one of the memorable moments of the final service as the ceremony moved towards the final stage of Olu Jacobs’ farewell.
Olu Jacobs is laid to rest
After the funeral service at This Present House, Olu Jacobs was taken for his final burial at a private cemetery in Lagos.
That brought the public funeral programme to its final stage after several days of tributes, memories and appearances by people who had shared different parts of his life.
His Night of Tributes on September 30 had provided an opportunity for colleagues and friends to speak about his professional legacy. The October 2 funeral service brought family members, dignitaries and the entertainment community together for the final ceremony.
The burial marked the end of the public farewell programme, but the memories shared throughout the ceremonies provided a lasting picture of the actor’s career and family life.
2 different traditions meet on 1 date
The striking part of October 2 was the simultaneous occurrence of 2 major remembrance gatherings connected to Nollywood veterans.
Ogogo’s programme in Ilaro followed Islamic traditions, with the 40 day Fidau forming the religious foundation of the occasion while the Artists’ Day created space for the entertainment community to celebrate his career.
Olu Jacobs’ ceremony in Lagos followed a Christian funeral structure, with Bible readings, tributes, music and a final burial after the service.
The locations were also different. Ogogo’s gathering took place in Ilaro, Ogun State, a place strongly connected to his burial and cultural background. Olu Jacobs’ funeral took place in Lagos, one of the major centres of Nigeria’s entertainment industry and the city where much of his professional and family life had unfolded.
The ceremonies therefore offered 2 different pictures of how Nigerian entertainers are remembered, while both remained centred on family, faith, colleagues and the legacy of a life spent in entertainment.
A day filled with Nollywood memories
The October 2 gatherings also brought several generations of Nigerian entertainers into the same news cycle.
Ogogo represented an important part of the Yoruba theatre and cinema tradition, with a career that stretched back more than 40 years. Olu Jacobs represented another major chapter of Nigerian acting, with a career spanning theatre, television and film and extending across more than 6 decades.
Their careers developed through different paths, but both became familiar names to Nigerian audiences.
The presence of actors from different generations at the respective ceremonies showed how much of the Nigerian entertainment industry is built around relationships that stretch across decades.
Older actors worked alongside younger performers, mentors influenced new generations and colleagues eventually became the people responsible for remembering those who came before them.
The dates tell the story
Ogogo’s final journey began on August 23, 2026, when he died at the age of 66 after battling stage 4 cancer. He was buried in Ilaro on August 24 according to Islamic rites.
The family then held the 8th day Fidau on August 31, bringing relatives, friends and members of the entertainment community together for prayers.
October 2 was later designated for the 40 day Fidau and Artists’ Day, turning the remembrance into a larger industry gathering involving entertainers and performances.
Olu Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His public funeral programme followed with the Night of Tributes and Service of Songs at Glover Memorial Hall on September 30.
The final funeral service came on October 2 at This Present House in Lekki Phase 1, after which he was laid to rest at a private cemetery in Lagos.
Those dates place the 2 stories side by side and explain why October 2 became such a significant day for Nollywood remembrance.
2 legacies remembered
Ogogo’s Artists’ Day brought the Yoruba entertainment community back to Ilaro to honour a veteran whose career was closely tied to Yoruba theatre and cinema. The programme allowed colleagues to combine prayers with performances and personal memories as they marked 40 days since his death.
Olu Jacobs’ funeral brought family members, actors, government officials and other dignitaries together in Lagos after a Night of Tributes that had already provided colleagues with an opportunity to speak about his influence.
The 2 ceremonies followed different religious and cultural traditions, yet both placed considerable attention on the people who worked alongside the deceased actors and the families who stood at the centre of the farewell.
For Nollywood, October 2 was therefore a day marked by remembrance across 2 cities, with Ilaro honouring Ogogo through his 40 day Fidau and Artists’ Day while Lagos completed the final funeral ceremonies for Olu Jacobs.
Both men left behind careers that crossed generations, and both final gatherings reflected the size of the communities they built around them during their years in Nigerian entertainment.
